Ground-anchor device.



G. M. BEARD, GROUND ANCHOR DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED SEFT.5. I916. 1&5, 176. Patented Nov. 6, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Witnesses Inventor;

, knew/a by I Attorneys,

G. M. BEARD.

GROUND ANCHOR DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 5. 1916- 1345, 176.

Witnesses Patented Nov. 6, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

enonen IVI. BEARD, or PLEASANT'LAKE, INDIANA.

' Gnounn-nncnon nnvrcn.

I Specification of Letters Patent. 1 Patented NOV. 6, 1917;

Application filed September 5, 1916. serial no. 118,498,

To all whom it may concern: 1

Be it known that I, GEORGE M. BEARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at PleasantLake, in the countyof Steuben and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Ground-Anchor Device, of which the following is a specification. V I

p The present invention appertains to ground anchors, and aims toprovide a novel and improved device-for anchoring a guy wire in the ground for bracing fence posts, tent poles, telegraph and telephone poles, and the like. p

It is the object" of the invention toproe vide an anchor member adapt-ed tobepunchedor struck from thinsheeti metal, and of novelformationto strengthen it, to accom modatethe guy wire in a thoroughly effective manner, to accommodate the driving rod for driving the anchor, member into the l ground, and to cause the anchor member to efiectively engage within the ground to resist the withdrawal of the same when the guy wireis subjected to tensile strain.

Another obj ect of the invention is the provision of an anchor plate adapted to be inexpensively manufactured from sheet metal and which will be simple yet thoroughly practical and rigid in construction, to withstand the strains to which it is subjected, and to properly carry out its functions, even though the plate is composed of compara tively'thin metal. I

A further object of, the invention is the provision in an anchor device, of an. anchor plate pivotally connected with the guy wire,

and'an extractor, said extractor and anchor plate cooperating one with the other, whereby the extractorjcan be driven into the ground for extracting the anchor plate, when this isdesired. This is particularly desirable when the anchor is used temporarily in connection with atentor the like.

'With, the foregoing and other objects in view which will-appear as the description proceeds,'the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction,hereinafter described; and I claimed, it being understood I plate.

that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, can be made withinthe scope of what is claimed, without departingv from the spirit of the invention. The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a plan view of the anchor Fig. 2 is alongitudinal sectionthereof applied to the drivingrodlto be driven into the ground therewith. V i

Fig. 3;is a side elevation of the device in place withinthe ground, and also illustrating the extractor being driven into the ground for removing the anchor,

Fig. 4 is a side elevation showing. the extractor driven .into place to swing the anchorplate to a longitudinal position against the headofthe extractor. I 'i Fig.-5 is a planyiew of the anchor plate and extractor assembledas seen in Fig. 4:.- 7 Figs. :6, 7 and 8 are sectional views taken on the respective section lines 66, 7 7 and 8- 8 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 9 is a plan viewof another form of anchor plate assembled with the driving rod. h Fig. 10 is a longitudinal section taken on the line l010 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a cross section taken on the line 1l.1 l of Fig. 10. s V

- Fig. 12 is a side elevation or edge view of the second form being driven into the ground. r

Fig. 13, is a side elevation illustrating'the second form incplace within the ground.

In carrying out the invention, reference being had toFigs. l toS, inclusive, there is provided an elongated anchor plate 1 punched from sheet metal of suitable thickness, and having a pointed. driving end or nose 2, the other or tail end of the plate 1 being bifurcated, as at 3, to provide the defleeting points a bent at an acute angle or curved slightly to one side from theplane of the anchor plate 1 at, the rear ends of the oppositely extending wings of the anchor plate. The anchor plate 1 is provided at its longitudinal median line between and parallel with its side edges, withha longitudie nal corrugation 5 extending from its rear end, and a longitudinal corrugation 6 extending from its forward pointed end or nose, said corrugations being in alinement and being struck toward the same side from the plate 1. The corrugations 5 and dare struck in one direction and the deflecting points at are bent toward .the opposite side or in the opposite direction. Between the spaced corrugations 5 and 6 the plate 1 is provided with an arcuate portion 7 struck toward the same sideas the corrugationsfi and 6, and said plate has arcuate portions 8 and 9 between the portions T'and corrugations 5 and 6, respectively, struck toward the opposite side. The "longitudinal corrugated portionofthe plate 1 at the median line'thereof between the opposite wings of the plate, serves to stiffen the plate 1,,to prevent the bending or bowing thereof, and this permits of theuse of lighter sheet metal without danger of the anchor plate collapsing due to the, strain imposed thereon. The edgeportions of the-plate :1 are preferably although not necessarily curved toward one side, preferably away from the side toward which the defiecting'points are bent. If the edge portions of the plate are thusbent toward one side, this also materially adds to the stifi'ness ofthe anchor plate longitudinally thereof.

The wings of the plate 1 are provided with apertures lO adjacent to and at the opposite sides of the portion for the reception of the guy wirell; In applying the wire to the anchor plate, the wire is threaded through the apertures and is doubled to provide the loop 12 between its ends ex tending through the apertures 10 with its bight'or bend opposite the portion 7 between the portions 8 and 9. The wire 11 is then preferably twisted, as at 13, adjacent to the loop, 11, and as far from the loop as desired. The doubled gu-ywire is therefore provided with a loop 12 at, one end pivotally engaged with the anchor plate, and the other end of the doubled anchor wire can'be provided, if desired, with a loop 1 1 for the attachment oi a guy rope of a tent, or the 1 like, although it'is to be understood that the guy wire can be connected directly to a fencepost, telephone or telegraph pole, or can be connected to a post, pole, or other structure in any other suitable manner.

In driving the anchor plate into the ground, a driving rod 15 of suitable length is employechand any convenient rod can be used for thispurpose- One end of the rod 15is inserted longitudinally into the longitudinal socket of'the anchor plate 1 provided by the portions 5, 8, 7 and 9, struck in opposite directions, the anchor plate being readily slipped onto the end of the driving rod, and the driving rod being held snugly between the portions 5-7 and 8-9 with the pointed end of the anchor plate beyond the end of the driving rod, and the anchor plate located substantially in a plane in which the axis of, the rod 15 lies. The loop 12 of the guy wire surrounds the rod 15,.the bight of the loop resting against the rod 15between theportions 8 and 9, to assist in assembling the anchor plate and rod, and-the guy wire extends along the rod 15, the rod and guy wire being held in one hand, while the rod is being driven into the ground with a hammer, mallet or other suit able implement. The anchor plate is thus driven into the ground in advance of the anchor rod, and afterthe anchorplate has been driven into the ground a suitable depth determined by the anchorage strength desired, the driving rod15 is withdrawn from the anchor plate and ground, and the guy wire is then pulled to-turn the anchor plate within the ground at an acute angle with the guy wire and hole made-bythe driving rod. Thus, when the guywirei-s pulled so as to tend to withdraw the anchor plate,=the deflecting point of the anchor plate will engage theground and due to the upward movement of the anchor plate, will'defiect or direct-therear end'of the anchor plate into the ground away from the guy wire and hole, and the anchor plate will therefore assume a position-at an angle with the guy wire, and will lie in a plane substantially at an acute" angle with the guy wire andhole, whereby the anchor plate will resist further movement out of the ground, dueto theresistance ofieredby the ground above the anchor plate against its withdrawal. The deeperthe anchor plate is embedded in the ground the greater will be the anchorage strength provided, and if the edge'portions of the anchor plate l-are curved or bent from the side toward which the deflecting points i are bent, said edges will project toward'the surface of the ground, thereby assisting inthe hold of the anchorplate in the ground. 7

An extractor is provided for removing the anchor fromthe ground. There is a cooperation between the-anchor plate, 1 above described, and theextractor, whereby one depends upon the other-tor the utility of the extractor in"withd-rawi-ng the anchor plate. "The extractor includes-a rod 16 and a sheet metal head 17 attached to" one end thereof, said head 17 having a-longitudina'l corrugation 1S fitting the terminal ofthe rod 16 and secured thereto by'means of a rivet 18 or other suitable securing element. The head 17 is provided with a bifurcated end or fork 20 projecting 'fronrthe end-of the rod 16, and the arms or" the forkZO are of arcuate cross section, as seen in Fig.6. The bends of the arms 21 face in a direction opposite to the bend of" the corrugation '18 and said corrugation extends from the slot or recess of the fork 20 to the opposite end of the head or plate 17. The edges of the head 17 including the remote edges of the arms 21 are curved or bent toward the side toward which the corrugation 18 is struck whereby to stiffen the head or plate 17 longitudinally. The end of the rod 16 terminates between the ends of the corrugation 18 and is provided with a bevel 19 facing the corrugation 18.

When the anchor is to be used temporarily, it is preferably the practice to drive the anchor plate into the ground in a certain position, whereby the extractor can be driven into the ground to properly cooperate with the anchor plate without confusion. For this reason, it is preferable to drive the anchor plate in the same position into the ground, especially when it may be possible or necessary to remove the anchor sub- Sequently.

In using the extractor, the same is driven into the ground along the guy wires at a proper side of said wire, with the corrugation 18 resting againts the guy wire. Therefore, as the extractor head 17 is driven against the anchor plate 1, the ends of the arms 21 contact with the wing of the anchor plate at those sides of the apertures 10 nearest the pointed end of the anchor plate, due to the curvature of the loop 12 toward one side, and as the extractor is driven farther into the ground, it will force the anchor plate downwardly therewith, and at the same time, the arms 21 will ride along the face of the anchor plate toward the pointed end thereof, thereby swinging the anchor plate against the head 17 into a position longitudinally of the guy wire. As the anchor plate assumes a longitudinal position, the beveled end 19 of the extractor rod 16 engages the rear end of the anchor plate between the deflecting points 4:, as seen in Fig. 7, thereby holding said end of the anchor plate against the extractor head 17. The corrugation 18 will accommodate the corrugation 5 of the anchor plate, and the recess or slot 20 will accommodate the corrugation 6 and the portion 7, and the guy wire will extend through said slot 20 and along the corrugation 18 and rod 16 remote from the anchor plate. Then, by withdrawing or pulling on the guy wire, the anchor plate will be pulled upwardly therewith, being first pulled against the beveled end 19 of the extractor rod 16, thereby holding the rear or uppermost end of the anchor plate against the extractor, while the anchor plate is being withdrawn. This prevents the anchor plate from being again deflected into the ground as it is withdrawn, which would occur in the absence of the extractor assembledwith the anchor plate as above described.

The extractor is therefor of especial advantage in connection with the anchor plate above described, and there is a cooperation between the two, whereby the extraction of the anchor plate is possible in a convenient manner. The anchor plate in engaging the beveled end 19' of the rod'16, and anchor plate fitting the head 17 as above described, will prevent the turning or displacement of the anchor plate during its withdrawal. After the anchor plate has been withdrawn, it can be used again.

A modified form of anchor plate is illustrated 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13. The anchor plate 1 is of practically the same shape as the anchor plate 1 and has the pointed end 2 and the bifurcated end 3 providing the deflecting points a which are bent toward one side, the edge portions of the plate 1 being preferably bent slightly toward one side to stiffen the edges of the plate. The plate 1 is provided with a longitudinal corrugation 5 struck toward the side toward which the edges of the plate are bent, and the plate has a second longitudinal corrugation 6 struck toward the opposite side and extending from the pointed end 2', while the corrugation 5 extends from the bifurcated end. The two corrugations meet between the ends of the plate, and the corrugation 5 is adapted to snugly receive the end of the driving rod 15 which abuts against the corrugation 6, the same as the driving rod 15 abuts against the corrugation 6 to drive the anchor plate ahead of the driving rod. The anchor plate 1 is held assembled with the driving rod by means of the guy wire 11 having the loop 12 and twisted portion 13, the same as the guy wire above described, the loop 12 ex tending through apertures 10 with which the wings of the plate 1 are provided at opposite sides of the corrugations 5. The loop 12 extends around the rod 15 to hold it seated in the corrugation 5, during the driving of the anchor plate. The anchor plate 1 is used in practically the same manher as the anchor plate 1 above described, and further description along this line is not deemed necessary.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A sheet metal anchor plate having a longitudinal corrugation struck therefrom toward one side for receiving a driving rod, and having a portion struck therefrom on the same longitudinal line with said corrugation and toward the opposite side for the engagement of said rod.

2. A sheet metal anchor plate having a bifurcated end providing deflecting points curved to one side, the edges of the plate being curved toward the opposite side, said In testimony that I claim the foregoing plate having a corrugation struck toward as my own, I have hereto affixed my s1gnathe second mentioned side and extendlng ture in the presence of two Witnesses.

from said bifurcated end to receive a driv- GEORGE M. BEARD. ing rod, and said plate having apertures W'itnesses:

at opposite sides of said corrugation for re- FRANK G. GILBERT,

ceiving the loop of the guy Wire. W. E. TUTTLE.

Games of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Eatents, Washington, I? G. 

